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Wacky beverages are fast-food's big summer lure

Some things go hand-in-hand with summer: Sun burns. Tacky bikinis. And wacky drinks. This summer is no exception – particularly in the wacky drink arena, with many fast-food giants rolling out their most

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Wacky beverages are fast-food's big summer lure

Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY
8:29 p.m. EDT June 30, 2013

The Peanut Butter and Bacon shake is Sonic's new creation for the summer, adding the guilty pleasure of peanut butter and bacon to the coolness of a milkshake. "Customers try it the first time out of curiosity," says spokesman Patrick Lenow. "What we find is, they genuinely like it and try again." (Photo: Sonic)

This summer is no exception – particularly in the wacky drink arena, with fast-food giants rolling out their most unusual beverages of the year. Summer is the busy season for the $175 billion fast-food industry, so this is when it works overtime to lure-in thirsty consumers hoping folks not only buy lots of high-margin drinks, but load up on food, too.

Peanut butter & ... Sonic has a new Peanut Butter & Bacon shake. "Customers try it the first time out of curiosity," says spokesman Patrick Lenow. "What we find is, they genuinely like it and try again."

Not to be out peanut-buttered, on July 1, Smashburger rolls out a Peanut Butter & Jelly Shake. The concept – made with Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup and crushed Nutter Butter Cookies -- came from customers, says Stacie Lange, senior vice president.

Sweet & salty. In late July, Arby's will debut a Salted Caramel Shake because it "rose to the top in tests," says Robin Seward, vice president of brand marketing.

Soda Shaq. LeBron isn't doing a soda – yet. But 7-Eleven this week begins its national roll-out of Soda Shaq – a new line of four AriZona Beverages natural cream sodas named for pro basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal.

Weird iced coffees. Dunkin' Donuts has rolled out two wacky iced coffees: Mint Chocolate Chip and Old Fashioned Butter Pecan. Both are made with Baskin- Robbins ice cream – the first time Dunkin' has partnered with its sister brand on a coffee, says John Costello, president of global marketing.